Crate and method of making same



Jan. 10, 1928.

W. H. M CRERY CRATE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed July 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 UQMA attorney Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

WILLIAM H. CC'RERY, or MARYDEL, MARYLAND.

CRATE AND METHOD OF MAKING Application filed J'uly 25, 1923. Serial No. 653,805.

This invention relates to berry crates, and methods of making the same.

In forming the crates, I employ sheets of metal and form spaced ribs or projections longitudinally of the blank. The blank is then folded to form the sides and ends of the crate and the edges are locked to each other. I further employ flat strips which are placed on the spaced ribs to form the bottom and inner partitions and an upper strip which is locked in the top rib.

An object of the invention is to provide a berry crate which may be shipped in knockdown form, thus saving space and decreasing freight expenses.

A further object is to provide a crate which may be readily assembled and disassembled in which no locking elements are employed except a seam formed on the edges of the blank and integral therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a crate constructed in accordance with the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the completed crate in an unfastened position,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the bottom, partitions, and top in position,

Figure 3 is a plan view, showing the method of inserting the partitions,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the blanks showing the ribs formed thereon,

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the bottom, partitions and top in position,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottom, partitions, and top, and,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view showing the method of locking the edges of the blank to each other.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates generally a rectangular sheet of metal or the like from which the crate is to be formed. Adjacent one longitudinal edge the material is folded upon itself to form a rib or projection 2 upon which the bottom of the crate rests when assembled. Similar projections 3 are formed at spaced intervals and the other edge of the blank is folded to form a projection 4 and provide a strip 5 above the projection. The blank is adapted to be folded to form the sides and ends of the crate and to facilitate folding, the ribs are provided with cut out portions 6 at spaced intervals. After the ribs have been cut away, the blank is folded, the central portion of the blank forming an end 7 with the sides 8 connected thereto. This provides a pair of sections 9 which are adapted to form the other end of the crate and the ed over,

edges of these two sections are f0ldas at 10, to form a seam. The crate is arranged as shown in Figure l of the drawings,

and to complete the assembly, the

curled edges 10 are interlocked and if desired may be hammered, to insure proper fastening. The bottom, partitions and top of the crate are formed of flat strips 11 of sheet In etal cut to the proper size and adapted to rest on the projections 2, 3, and 4. The bottom strip is inserted with the blank partiall and 3 of the drawings, are adapted to be placed assembled, as shown in Figures 1 and berry boxes 12 thereon. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, this bottom strip rests upon the bottom rib or projection 2. The

partitio ns are then inserted upon intermediate ribs 3 and the interlocking joint closed.

The top member 11 is placed on the upper rib 4t and the edge 5 folded over it to form a look. In removin the top, the edge provide 5 a simple form of knock-down crate which may be readily assembled and disassembl folding,

By using material adapted to the crate may be used a number of times and in shipping empty crates in a knock-down condition, a number of crates may be stored in the space usually provided for a single crate.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

prising crate of the character described coma sheet of metal benttransversely to form a substantially rectangular body having side and end walls, the ends of said sheet being provided with bent portions adapted to form an interlocking seam, said sheet being provided with a series of alined inwardly stamped horizontal ribs arranged wholly sheet, t

at right angles to the body of the he ends of said ribs lying adjacent each other and terminating adjacent the bend of the sheet, and a partition loosely supported on said ribs.

2. The method of forming berry crates and the like Which comprises providing a blank sheet of metal with a series of alined longitudinal ribs stamped inwardly of the blank and extending wholly at right angles thereto, bending the blank transversely 10 between the ends of said ribs to form end and side Walls, one end Wall being formed of the end portions of said blank, maintaining said end portions in spaced relation, supporting thepartition member on said ribs, and moving the end portions of the blank inwardly andsecnrlng them together to loosely support said partitions in position.

i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

\VILLIAM- H. MQCRERY. 

